Sempra U.S. Gas & Power dedicated the 92 MW first phase of the company’s Copper Mountain Solar 2 solar energy facility in Boulder City, Nevada.
Copper Mountain Solar 2 is one of the North America’s largest photovoltaic (PV) solar plants. When its second phase is completed in 2015, the project’s total operating capacity will be 150 MW, or enough energy for 45,000 homes.
The first phase of construction of Copper Mountain Solar 2 began in December 2011 and created about 650 construction jobs. The project employs 11 operators.
The start of construction at Sempra U.S. Gas & Power’s largest solar project, Copper Mountain Solar 3 will proceed next. When completed in 2015, the project will be capable of generating 250 MW, or enough electricity to power about 80,000 homes. It will create an estimated 500 construction jobs and eight permanent positions.
In all, Copper Mountain Solar 1, Copper Mountain Solar 2 and Copper Mountain Solar 3 will represent one of the largest solar power complexes in the U.S., capable of generating 458 MW.
Sempra U.S. Gas & Power LLC is a leading developer of renewable energy and natural gas solutions. The company operates solar, wind and natural gas power plants that generate enough electricity for nearly 1 million homes, along with natural gas storage, pipelines and distribution utilities.
The company is a unit of Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE), an energy services holding company with 2012 revenues of about $10 billion. The Sempra Energy companies’ nearly 17,000 employees serve more than 31 million consumers worldwide.
